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Umayyad Mosque

Al Azem Palace

Anbar Bureau

From National Museum

Palmyra

Remains of Palmyra

St.Simon citadel

Crac des Chevaliers

Crac des Chevaliers

Apamea

Tartous Cathedral

Saladin Castle

Port of Lattakia

Aleppo

Mosque Aleppo

Aleppo Citadel

Najm Citadel Aleppo

St Simon Citadel

The most important Historical Places

:: Damascus

Umayyad Mosque:
The Mosque stands on a site of religious importance. It is well proportioned, beautifully designed and adorned with many mosaic panels.
Historically, it was dedicated to the local God “Hadad”, then it became the temple of “Zeus” during the Hellenistic period, a temple of “Jupiter” during the Roman period, a church of St. John during the Byzantine period, and it is now the famous Islamic shrine.

Al-Saida Zeinab Shrine:
Daughter of Hussein son of Ali. Zeinab is believed to be buried in this village at 10 kms. South east of Damascus. It is characterized by a profusion of bright decorations made of silver, gold, and embroidered glass. The shrine appears like a jewel.

Takkiyeh as-Suleimaniyeh:
It was constructed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan. During the region of Sultan Suleiman. It encompasses a huge Takkiyeh (elm house), a madrassa (school), a mosque and a Souk.

Walls and gates of Damascus:
The first wall surrounding Damascus was built during the Arameans period. It was rebuilt during the Roman period and maintained during the subsequent period with slight modifications. It has seven gates (Bab): Al Faraj, al-Faradis, as-Salaam- Touma, al Jabiyeh, Sharki, and Bab Kisan.

Citadel:
Damascus citadel was part of the city defenses. It withstood the assaults of the Crusaders and later the Mongols’ attacks.Damascus city is famous for its churches and convents, many of them still remain such as St. Ananias Chapel and St. Paul church. It was characterized by its varied markets such as the covered Souk of al Hamidiyeh.

Azem Palace:
It was the palace of the Ottoman governor of Damascus. Its architecture is remarkable, and constitutes of an outstanding example of the traditional Damascene house.The palace harbors at present the popular traditions (Folklore) and handicraft museum.

National museum:
One of the most important museums worldwide. Its collections are subtly arranged and chronologically exhibited according to periods and sites. It includes sections covering the pre-historic to the modern eras’ antiquities and collections.

:: BOSRA

The earliest reference of the city can be found in the records of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tuthmosis III. It has many important well preserved monuments, belonging mostly to Roman period. The most important sites in the town are:

Roman theatre (citadel): A gigantic Roman amphitheatre dating back to the 2nd Century A.D. It provides a magnificent frame for a great festival
 

:: SUWEIDA

1-Museum.
2-Shahba: Temple- Kleebe- Theater- Philip ion- Bath- Wall and gates.
3-Qanawat.
 

:: PALMYRA:

The capital of Zenobia the queen of the Syrian desert. The splendid buildings remain between oasis and dunes, stones of a warm weather-beaten color. This old caravan-stop city became rich by trade with the far east. A huge temple dedicated to Bel, Palmyra “Avatar” of an old Babylonian divinity, an elegant chapel (Cella) for the “Master” of Heavens Baalshamin, a charming theatre with steps in wonderful blend of ochure and pink colors, a very long and majestic row of columns, a lone skeleton of a city which lost its reason d’etre with the disappearance of its houses and shops: everything still bears witness to the splendor that was Palmyra. A city that played an essential role in trade along the silk route. Tadmor is mentioned in the clay tablets from the kingdom of Mari and in Assyrian tablets. It stands witness to great architectural achievements, uniting majesty and beauty, and to the ancient history of Amorites, Arameans and Arab in their relation with Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine cultures.The most important monuments the remain to seen today are:

Bel Temple, Baal Shamin, The Forum, The Senate Building, The colonnaded Street, the Museum , and the Valley of Tombs where the strange funerary towers rise high above the dust of time and desert.
 

:: Crac De Chevaliers

It is certainly the best preserved and most impressive of the Crusader castles anywhere in the Middle East. Its military architecture is outstanding, with high solid walls and thirteen towers. It was capable of housing two thousand knights with their retainers and of holding supplies sufficient for five years.
 

:: Hama

On the Orantes river, famous for its giant Norias (Water Wheels) from the Roman times that lift water from the river onto aqueducts. Arameans established one of their most ancient and powerful petty Kingdoms. They were followed by Hittites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greek, Romans and Byzantine.
 

:: Apamea

It was established by the Hellenistic king Seleucus I Nicator around 300 B.C and named after his wife Apamea.Historically, the famous Cleopatra, the Roman Emperors Septimus Severus and Caracalla had visited this city.
 

:: Tartous

It is the second port of Syria . An old city where the first human occupation of this site dates back more than 6000 years. Among the most important archeological and historical monuments: Amrit (XVI Century B.C), the Museum, and Arwad Island.
Marqab Castle:

Striking even from a distance for its huge size and somber, brooding appearance. Built from black basalt rock, it is one of the most impressive Crusader castles after Crac des Chevaliers. It has 14 towers in addition to the keep (donjon).It was one of the last Crusaders strongholds, liberated by the Mamelukes Sultan Qalauon 1285A.D.
 

:: Lattakia

Known as the Sea Bride, it is the premier Syrian seaport. The city was built by Seleucus I Nicator, the first Seleucid ruler, and was named after his mother’s name Laodicea. The most important monuments there are: Ras Shamra (Ugarit): dating to the 14th century BC, it is now believed that Ugaritic is the most ancient alphabet in the world. Clay tablets, in several languages were found there.

Salah ud-Din castle:
First built by the Byzantines, then occupied by the Crusaders who were powerless to stop Salah ud-Din taking it.
 

:: Aleppo

It is also one of the oldest cities in the world. It was destroyed by the Mongols in 1400 A.D by Timor Lank.Aleppo has many remarkable archeological monuments. The gates, the Citadel, Mosques, Churches, Museum, Bimarstans, Turkish baths, old souks and khans.


Aleppo Citadel
It is very old citadel, perhaps first built during the Yamhad kingdom era in the II millennium B.C. The most striking features are the Throne Room, the Bath complex, The Palace, the Amphitheatre, and the Small mosque.
Aleppo Museum:

It is one of the richest museums in the world in archeological discoveries from the ancient kingdoms of the East, Ebla: A newly unearthed archeological site dates back to the second millennium B.C. It was mentioned in many Egyptian and Mesopotamian documents.It is famous for its clay tablets written in various languages. There are about 16500 tablets that are yet to be fully deciphered until.
 

:: Al Raqqa

Al Raqqa stands on the shores of the mighty Euphrates River where the most ancient civilizations first arose.A small town that was established during the Hellenistic period. Its importance increased when it became a border fortress for the Roman and Byzantine Empires to defend them against the Parthian and Persians.

 

:: Rasafe

Rasafe, the dramatic ruins of a huge walled city on the fringe of the desert, is perhaps the most impressive sight you will see along the Euphrates.

Jaber Castle
It is a fortress built by the Seleucids, and was controlled by the Seljuk and Mamelukes until the Mongols invasion in the 13th century. The main attraction, though, is the spectacular view out over the Lake Assad. In addition to the West Al-Heir Castle and Euphrates Dam in the area.

 

:: Deir Ez-Zor

It is the pearl of the Euphrates. The bank of the Euphrates and Khabour rivers are full of archeological sites. The dawn of the first civilizations in the world belongs to this area. The new museum’s collection is attractive and worth a visit.The most important archeological sites around Deir Ez-Zor are:
 

:: Mari

It dates back to the beginning of the 3rd Millennium B.C. The Palace of Zimri-Lim, temple of Ishtar, and the most significant find from the palace was an archive containing about 15,000 clay tablets inscribed in Akkadian (Old Babylonian) script. These have given an unprecedented insight into the Lim Dynasty, and the political, economic and social life of Mari.

:: Halabiye- Zalabiye

Two fortresses on both banks of the Euphrates. They are believed to have been built by Queen Zenobia at this strategic point for more effective control of the commercial river traffic..
 

:: Dura Europos

It was built around 300 B.C, by Seleucus I Nicator. The remains are very important, especially for the early Christian Era.

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